Replenishing narrow-ware loom



Dec. 25, 1951 R. A. GRIEFEN ETAL 2,579,491

' REPLENISHING NARROW-WARE LooM Filed Oct. 7, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. l.A

RmHAQD A. @mar-EN FRAN?. c.. Mosman-rz WMM ATTORNEY.

Dec. 25, 1951 R. A. GRn-:PEN v12T/u. 2,579,491

REPLENISHING NARROW-WARE Loom Filed oct. 7, 1949 11 sheetsi-sheet s IN VEN TORS emaFEN FRANZ. C.. MOTEPJ'Z.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 25, 1951 l R.'A. GRIEFEN- ErAL 2,579,491 v R-EPLENISHING NRROW-WARE LOOM 4 Filed oct. 7, 1949 FIG. 9.

1l Sheets-Sheet 4 sa l. lllr u 7 5e 48 37I v BY 47 l mvanNx.

Dec. 25, 1951 R, A GRlEFEN ErAL 2,579,491

REPLENISHING `NARROW-WARE LOOM Filed Oct. 7, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet -5 FIG. Il

RKMARD A. GD'JEFEN FRANL C. MOSTERTZ Dec. 25, 1951 R. A. GRIEFEN ETAL 2,579,491

' REPLENI'SHING NARROW-WARE-Lm Filed Oct. 7, 1949 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. I5

v IN VEN TORS` RWA-USED &R\EFE.N

PRAN'L vC. MOSTERTZ BY I A krowvfy.

Dec. 25, 1951 I A R, A, GRIEFEN TAL 2,579,491

REPLENISHING NARROW-WARE LOOM I Filed oct. '7, 1949' l llfsheets-sheet e FQANZ c. Mosren'rz ATTO QN EY Dc. 25, 1951 v R. A. GRIEFEN ETAL 2,579,491

REPLENISHING NARROW-WARE -LOOM Filed Oct. '7, 1949 l 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Flo;- 22. 9 207 o Y INVENToRs 244 RICHARD A; @ramp-EN FRAN?. CMos-ram-z v ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 R. A. GRIEFEN UAL 2,579,491

REPLENISHING NARRowwARE LooM Filed oct. 7, 1949V 11 sheets-sheet 1o l INVENToRs Quo-umn A. c-,mEFEN @Zuma ATT-@ENEL R. A. GRIEFEN ETAL 2,579,491

Dec. 25, 1951 REPLENISHING NRROW-WARE LOOM Filed Oct. 7, 1949 l1 Sheets-Sheet 11 would A. emEFEN FRANZ C.. MOSTEJZTZ.

ATTO RNE Y.

Patented Dec'. 25, 1951 Y REPLENISHING NARROW-WARE LOOM Richard A. Griefen, Conshohocken, and Franz C. Mostertz, Philadelphia, ia.. assignors to Martin Fabrics Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 7, 1949, Serial No. 120,078 18 claims. (01.139-243) This invention relates to improvements in loom construction and is concerned more especially with looms of the narrow fabric type for weaving ribbons, tapes and the like. Y

Heretofore vit has been necessary in narrow fabric looms to effect weft replenishment by interrupting the operation of the loom and manually replacing the exhausted quill in the loom shuttle with a fresh quill. It is a primary object ofthe present invention to provide a loom having automatic mechanism for positioning a fresh quill in the loom shuttle without requiring interruption of loom operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a loom having automatic mechanism of the character indicated which is operative not dicates the position oi" the shuttle while the .but which simultaneously effects proper alignment and threading of the weft in the shuttle.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel shuttle construction allowing selfthreading simultaneously with the positioning of a fresh quill in the shuttle.

In order to carry out the objects of the invention the shuttle is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed thread guides which are movable from normal separated position at opposite ends of the shuttle to an operative central threadreceiving position at the moment when a fresh quill is deposited in the shuttle. The thread guides are operated by a control mechanism iixedto the loom at a point defining one end of the trajectory of the shuttle, which point may be conveniently designated the magazine end of the loom because of the disposition thereat of the magaziney retaining the fresh quills, and said control mechanism includes a pair of fingers which cooperatewith the movable thread guides on the shuttle and swing them inwardly to their central operative thread receiving position. When the loom is operating normally the control ngers Vare retainedv in inoperative position so as not to obstruct the trajectory of the shuttle or interfere with the shuttle thread guides until weft; replenishment is indicated.

An important feature `of the present invention' resides in the fact that the indication of weft replenishment occurs always when the shuttle y which form part of an electrical control `circuit are disposed on the loom frame at the end of the shuttle trajectory opposite the control mechanism 'and magazine.

,555 One of said switches inother indicates the condition of the quill retained in the shuttle. When the quill is empty and the shuttle arrives at the detecting station defined by the switches on the far side of the loom, both switches will close the electrical detecting circuit thereby energizing solenoidcontrols which operate to bring the fingers of the control mechanism at the opposite or magazine end of the loom into operative position awaiting the arrival of the shuttle from the far end or detecting end of the loom. Simultaneously a pivoted pawl attached to a lever operatively connected with a quill-feeding hammer element is elevated to operative position in order to be engaged by a ram formed on the loom batten. Thus whenthe shuttle completes its trajectory and arrives at the quill-changing station defined by the control mechanism at the magazine end of the loom, a fresh quill is deposited on the shuttle by the quill hammer, displacing the exhausted quill, and the control fingers, which have been previously arranged in operative position, actuate the movable thread guides of the shuttle in order to effect automatic threading of the shuttle.

, The foregoing objects as well as additional objects 'and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent in the course 0f the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, and where- Fig. l is a plan view of a narrow fabric loom incorporating the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational View, partly broken away, of the structure of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the shuttle and the threading control mechanism illustrating the relative disposition of parts during normal operation of the loom prior to weft replenishment;

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views illustrating the sequential steps in the arrival of the shuttle with an exhausted quillrat the quill-changing station, the positioning of a fresh quill and the simultaneous automatic threading of the shuttle;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan View illustrating the manner of mounting the control ngers;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the improved shuttle;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the shuttle;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the shuttle taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is a sectional view of the shuttle taken on line Ili-Ieof Fig. 11;

` Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the shuttle, partly 3 broken away to show internal structure and relation of parts; l

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary detail views illustrating the action of the quill-feeding hammer in discharging a. fresh quill from the quill magazine;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on line Iil of Fig. 13, the hammer beingomitted for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 15 is an elevational view of a modified form of loom construction embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 16 is a plan View of the 'structure shownV in Fig. 15;

Figs. 17 and 18 are detail views of a clutch control mechanism for the quill-changing mechanism of Figs. 15 and 16 the clutch mechanism being shown in disengaged and engaged .position respectively;

Figs. 19 and 20 are detailed side and front elevations respectively illustrating the operation of the quill-carrying arms of the embodiment of Figs. 15 and 16;

Fig. 21 is a detailed view of the quill retaining member at the lowei end of the quill magazine channels illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20;

Fig. 22 is a bottom plan view of the shuttle and threading control mechanism of Figs. 15 and 16 illustrating the disposition of the control ngers in inoperative position during the normal operation of the loom priorfto weft replenishment;

Fig. 23 is a top plan view of the structure of Fig. 22 illustrating the control ngers in parallel operative position in order to eifect automatic threading of the shuttle upon indication of weftv replenishment;

Fig. 24 is a longitudinal sectional View of a modified form of shuttle for use in conjunction with the threading control mechanism of Figs. 22 and 23;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view of the shuttle taken on line 25-25 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a sectional view of the shuttle taken on line 23 26 of Fig. 24;

Fig.' 27 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical control circuit for use in connection with the loom construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 14 inclusive;

Fig. 28 is a diagrammatic View of an electrical controi circuit for use in connection with the loom construction` illustrated in Figs. 15 to 26 inclusive;

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the position of the detecting switches on the Vfar side of the loom opposite the magazine end for normal operation of the loom when the shuttle quill is not yet exhausted; and

Fig, 30 is a similar view illustrating the closing of the electrical control circuit when the shuttle arrives at the far end of its trajectory, opposite the magazine end of the loom and the quill-changing station, with a substantially eX- hausted quill.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 14, the invention is shown as applied to a narrow fabric loom having a frame I@ which supports an oscillating batten II. Batten ll reciprocates on guide rods I2 and is oscillated by means of a crank rod I3 connected to the main driving wheel I4 of the loom at I 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. As is conventional and well known, the shuttle I6 is reciprocated transversely With respect to the batteri I as well as longitudinally with respect to the warp threads (see Fig. 1), since the shuttle is supported on the batteri I i. The reciprocation of the shuttle i6 with respect to the batten II is effected by means of driving gears (not shown) retained within the batteri and slidably keyed on the driving shafts Il in well-known manner. The driving gears engagea rack i8 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) of shuttle i6 in order to impart transverse reciprocatory motion to the shuttle simultaneously with the oscillation of batten II in a longitudinal direction. The construction and operation of the batten and shuttle drive will not be further detailed .here since they are of conventional character and do not in themselves form part of the present invention.

p Figi illustrates the shuttle I6 in alternate positions at opposite ends of its trajectory, the

yshuttle being shown at theV near or magazine end of the loom in full lines and at the opposite or far end of the loom in dotted outline. The magazineV Ia is suitably supported, as by means of braces 23, at a level slightly abovev shuttle iii so as to permit feeding of a fresh quill when the shuttle isat the end of its trajectory at the near end of the loom indicated in full lines in Fig. l. Magazine i3 supports reserve quills in stacked relationship and is preferably formed with a central slot 2| in its rear Wall permitting extension of the free yarn ends of the respective stacked quills (see Fig. 2) to a suction device or holder (not shown). The opposite sides of said magazine are formed as channels 22 serving to retainand guide the tips of the reserve quills during their downward,

passage through the magazine. A hammer-sup porting member or yoke 23 is pivotally mounted on the loom frame between upright bearing supports 24 von a shaft 25 and is normally urged to the inoperative elevated position illustrated in dotted outline in Fig.V 2 by means of a spring 2S. The forward end of the yoke member 23 is formed as a hammer 2'! adapted to engage the lowermost reserve quill in magazine I9 and drive the quill into the shuttle It when said f shuttle has arrived at the magazine end ofthe loom in the full liney position of Fig. l follow-l ing the indication of weft exhaustion as will appear more fully hereinbelow. Yoke memberr 23 isformed with a lower extension 28 which is pivoted at 2S to a lever 30 which is in turn pivoted at 3I to the loom frame. A pawl 32 is pivotally mounted on lever 35 and is adapted to be elevated to the full line vposition of Fig. 2 upon indication of weft exhaustion for engagement by the ram 33 on hatten I I.

A feed control member 35 is mounted on magazine I9-in such a manner as to regulate the passage of fresh quills one at a time from the interior of the magazine and into quill transferring position at the open lower end of the magazine. Said feed control member comprises a frame including a pair of side members 35a and an upper transverse member 35h. Side members 35a are fixed at their lower ends to a pivot shaft 36 which may be supported in bearing brackets 3'! secured to magazine I9. As may be` seen in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, a pairof lower fingers 38 is secured to shaft 36 and a pair of of control member 35 (see Fig. 12) lower fingers 38 protrude through suitably disposed slots 40 formed in the lower portions of magazine channels 22, said slots being most clearly illustrated in Fig. 14, and engage the tips of the lowermost reserve quill 'in' the vertical portion of the magazine, which quill will be designated quill B. The next higher reserve quill is designated quill C and the quill which is in feeding position at thev delivery end of the l.magazine is designated quill A. Quill A is releasably supported in feeding position awaiting the stroke of hammer 21 by a pair of retaining members 4I pivoted to the outer sides of magazine channels 22 at 42 and normally urged to operative position byleaf springs 43.

Hammer yoke 23 is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting striking lugs or abutments 44 which are adapted to engage and depress feed control member 35 during the downward operative stroke of said hammer yoke. When the hammer yoke undergoes its downward stroke'following indication of weft exhaustion, quill A is driven into shuttle I6. Simultaneously feed control member 35 is depressed thereby releasing quill B and allowing it to advance until it strikes the depressed upper fingers 39 as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. By reason of the described arrangement quill B is retained clear of the path of the descending hammer 21 so as not to interfere with the positioning of quill A in shuttle I6. Upon elevation of hammer 21 quill B advances to the feeding position at the mouth of magazine I9 previously occupied by quill A and awaits repetition of the cycle of operations. Since the stroke of hammer 2-1 is relatively rapid, theyre'- turn stroke of feed control member is preferably retarded as by means of an air cylinder 45 which may be supported on a bracket 46 fixed to magazine I9. The lower end of piston 45a of said air cylinder is operatively connected by means of a linkage 41 to an arm 48 fixed to pivot shaft 36 of feed control member 35. Spring 45h returns control member 35 to its initial position.

As has been previously pointed out, shuttle I6 is constructed and arranged in such a manner as to allow automatic threading upon the positioning of a fresh quill therein. Referring now to Figs. 7 to 11 of the drawings, shuttle I6 is formed with a hollow housing or body member 50 defining a quill compartment 5I. The opposite ends of quill compartment 5I are defined by plates 52 and each of said end plates carries an opposed pair of spring clips 53 for retaining the ends of a quill. Spring clips 53 are attached at their outer ends to pins 54 and are preferably provided with central recesses 55 which engage therebetween opposite sides of the exposed quill tips as best shown in Fig. l1. The top of housing 50 is provided with a central slot or recess 56. An inner projection or lug 5.1 may be struck from housing 50 and is provided with an auxiliary recess or slot 58 which cooperates with slot 56 for preliminary alignment of the free end of the quill thread in a central plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the quill in shuttle I6, as willbe more fully described. A pair of thread tensioning guides or hooks 65 having threadreceiving slots 65a is slidably mounted 'on a supporting member 66 and said thread tensioning guidesare normally retained in separated position on opposite sides of quill compartment 5I, as shown in Fig. 1l by means of springs 61. Each of said springs 61 is secured to the outer end of a respective thread guide at Ione end and is secured at its opp-osite end by means of a set screw, 68. A tubular guiding and supporting member 69 is preferablyv surrounding each springl 676. Shuttle housing 5U and supporting member 66 are provided withaligned slots 18a. and. 10

' nected to lever 88 by means of link 98.

respectively in order to allow engagement of actuating fingers 1l within apertures 12 formed infthread tensioning guides 65 for moving saidv thread tensioning guides to central aligned position .and for effecting automatic threading of the shuttle. The construction and operation of the actuating ngers 1l and the related control mechanism therefor will now be described.

' Actuating fingers 1l are slidably mounted in pivot studs 15 carried by a fixed table 16 which is suitably secured to the loom frame on a level below magazine i9, as shown in Fig. 2. Referring now to Fig. 3, the lower end of leach pivot stud 15 is provided with a gear wheel 11 which is driven by an inner gear segment 18 through an intermediate gear Wheel 19. During the normal operation, of the loom actuating fingers 1I are retained in the divergent inoperative position of Fig. 3 so as not to obstruct the trajectory of shuttle I6 or interfere with the movable thread tensioning 'guides 65 until the necessity for weft replenishment arises. Means are further provided which, upon indication of weft exhaustion by the electrical control circuit (illustrated in Figs. 21, 29 and30) y-to be more fully'descriloed,A

fingers 1I a plate 88 is slidably mounted on the underside of table 16 as by means of the slots 8l through which extends screws 82. The forward end of plate defines rearwardly divergent camsurfaces 83 adapted to engage projections 84 of inner gear segments 18. As plate 88 is moved to its forward limiting position of Fig. 4 from the inoperative position o-f Fig. 3, the actuating fingers 1| are caused to assume their parallel operative position. The forward shifting of plate 80 is preferably accomplished through the agency of a solenoid 95 by means of suitable linkages. As best shown in Fig. 2, plate 80 may be pivoted at 85 to one branch of a bell-crank lever 86 which is pivoted to a lever 88 which is in turn pivoted intermediate its ends at 89 to a suitable fixed support (not shown) of the loom frame. Solenoid plunger 98 is operatively con- A lifting arm or lever 91 is also pivoted to lever 88 at its upper end and operativelyconnected at its lower end to pawl 32. Thus when solenoid 95 is energized by the electrical control circuit upon indication of weft exhaustion, not only are the actuating fingers 1I moved to operative parallel position, but pawl 32 is elevated to the full line position of Fig. 2 for engagement by the ram 33A on batten I I in order to actuate the quill-changing hammer 21. l

The arrival of shuttle I6 at the quill-changing station subsequent to the indication of weft ex- Fig. 5 and completing the threading operation' by moving the thread tensioning guides 65 into central aligned position. In this latter position said thread guides engage the weft thread -T ofy the' newly positioned' quill intheir respective thread receiving slots 55a, the weft thread having been previously aligned between the spaced shuttle slots 56 and 58 by the action of a centrally position guide member .Mil xed to .hammer .21 (see Figlli). Upon inactivation Voi' lingers '1| at .the .termination of their .operative threading stroke .by theeleetrical control circuit to .be describedythread. guides are retracted to their normal vposition o1' Figli by means of the springs 61.

Solenoid |05 may be mounted on a plate |02 secured: to bearing supports 2li. Solenoid plunger |5542 is joined 'by a yoke or connector |03 to a pull-.rod .I Q4 which maybe supported in a hanger 55 .de ending from table .'lB adjacent the forwardedge thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. Pull-rod |54 is formed with a butt |55 adapted to engage gear wheels l1 of pivot ,studs l5, thereby effecting the operative stroke of actuating fingers I. Provision is made, for progressively increasing the effective length of fingers during their operative stroke in order to maintain said fingers in .continuous engagement within the apertures 'l2 of shuttle thread guides 65. For this purpose table 15 is provided on its upper surface with fixed `eccentric cam guides |58 adjacent each of the finger pivot studs 15. Each of the ngers 7| is formed with an enlarged head |09 and a coi-l spring It@ is interposed between said head and pivot stud l5, as shown in Fig. 6. Furthermore, upon the inactivation of solenoid at the completion of the operative stroke of fingers il., springs H will operate to return the fingers to their outwardly divergent. normal position illustrated in Fig. 3.

As has been previously pointed out, the elec-` Fig. l further shows detecting switches ||5V and H which .may be supported on the loom frame in any suitable manner at the detecting stationas by means of a supporting bracket IH. Switch ||5 may be of the normally open type having a plunger H8 adapted to be `engaged by the shuttle I6 when the shuttle is at Vthe detecting station in order to close the switch. Switch I IE is of the normally closedtype having a feeler I i 0 ,adapted to engage the quill when the shuttle is at the detecting station and to close the switch when the quill is substantially exhausted. The operation of detecting switches |I5 and ||6 is illustrated in Figs. 29 and 30, the latter figure showing .that both of .said switches will make contact simultaneously when the shuttle is at the detecting station and the quill is substantially exhausted.- Referring back to Figs. 3, 4

8. and 5, it Awill be observed. that switches and |25 are mounted on opposite -sides of thebottom surface of table 16. Switch |25 is pivotally mounted at |27 on the plate |28 having a slot. I291receiving a pinl |30. carried at the end of a laterally extending arm I3! integral with slidable plate 85. Switch |25 is of the normally open type having a plunger `|32 actuated by a pivoted contact arm |33 which .is adapted tobe engaged by the shuttle housing as the shuttle carrying the exhausted quill completes its trajectory from the detecting station and arrives at the quillchanging station, as vshown inrFig. ,4. Switchl |25 is also ofthe normally open type havingV a plunger |34 adapted to close the switch atthe termination of the operative stroke of the fingen 'H -by the action of contact arm |35 secured to'` adjacent outer vgear wheel Tl, as shown in Fig. 5. Switch |25 serves to inactivate the fingers 1IY and allows restoration of the various described components of the quill-changing and threading mechanism to their normal positions illustrated in Fig. 3.-

.Finally, the manner in which the electrical7 circuit controls the sequential quill-changing and shuttle-threading operations will .be de-V scribed With reference to Fig. 12'? which indicates the various switches and selenoids which have been described together with supplemental conby the simultaneous closing -of switches -I I5 andj Switch |40 is held IIE closes relay switch |40. closed by latch |43 which is controlled by .a separate solenoid |45. energizes solenoid 95 which results in the preliminary alignment of the actuating ngers l1| and pivoted switch |25 in the position of Fig. 4 and in the elevation of pawl 32 to the position of Fig. l, .awaiting striking engagement by batten ram 33. As shuttle I6 arrives .at the quillchanging station shown in Fig. 4, it closes switch |25 thereby energizing solenoid |09 which causes ngers 7| to complete their operative stroke .and thread the shuttle in the manner previously .described. At. the termination of the operative stroke of fingers '|I contact arm |35 will .close I, switch |25 thereby energizing .solenoid |44 Whichretracts latch |43 and results in the opening of relayswitch |45 whereupon the loom weaves normally until detecting switches |.I5 and |.I5

again indicate weft eyhaustionon the Ishuttle- V quill.

It will be noted that solenoids |42 and |45 are operative against the normal .biasing tension of respective springs .Itza and .|44a.

Figs. l5 to .26 and 2.8 -illustratea modified form of loom construction embodying the features of..

the invention. Figs. 1-5 `and 16 show a loom frame which ,supports an oscillating batten |5| .driven from main driving vwheel means of a .crank rod |53.

|52 by Batten |5.| reciprocates .onguide rods .|54 while'shuttle `|55 is re.

well known. Fig. 16 illustrates shuttle |55 atA one .end of its trajectory at the quill-changing station of the loom.` ,A hammer-supporting Relay switch |40 has .a movable The closing of switch |40.

' dotted outline in Fig. 15).

vated inoperative position by means of a spring The forward end of yoke member |56 is"- |59. formed as a hammer |60 adapted to drive a fresh quill into shuttle |55 upon indication of weft exhaustion, as will appear more fully hereinafter. Yoke member |55 is formed with a lower extension |6| which is pivoted at |52 to a lever |93" which is in turn pivoted to the loom frame at |64. A pawl |65 is pivotally mounted on lever |63 and is adapted to be elevated to the position of Fig. 15 upon indication of weft exhaustion for engagement by the ram |56 on batten |5|.

A downwardly inclined magazine |10 which preferably comprises a pair of `spaced channel members |1| supports the -reserve quills which are to be fed one at a time to the shuttle |55 Vupon indication of weftl exhaustion. A pair of transferring arms |12 is fixed to a rocker shaft |13 mounted on a suitable support |14. Rocker shaft |13 is actuated upon indication of weft exhaustion to move transferring arms |12 fromv (shown in full lines in Fig. 15) to quill-receiving position at the bottom of magazine |10 (the latter position of said arms being indicated in For this purpose a cam lever |15 is pivotally mounted at |16 to the loom frame and the upper end of said cam lever is operatively connected by means of a linkage |11 to a rocker arm |18 fixed to rocker shaft |13. The lower end of cam lever |15 carries a roller |19 which engages an actuating cam |80 on cam Il" shaft |8|, said cam lever being held in operative engagement against cam |80 by means. of aA spring |82 anchored to a fixed loom support (not shown). Cam shaft |8| is rotated following indication of weft exhaustion from an idler shaft |83 controlled by a clutch mechanism generally designated by reference numeral |84.

As best shown in Fig. 17, idler shaft |83 is supported in a bearing member |35 and is driven from main driving wheel |52 by means of a crank |86. A sprocket |90 is freely rotatable on idler shaft |83 for engagement with a clutch collar |9| slidably keyed on said idler shaft, said sprocket wheel having a tongue |92 insertable within a complementary recess |93 in said clutch i collar. A spring |94 is interposed between said clutch collar and said sprocket for normally urging the members apart into the disengaged position illustrated in Fig. 17. Ashifting member or ring |95 is disposed between clutch coli.'

gagement and disengagement of the clutch.

Counterclockwise rotation of shifting lever |98 (as shown in Fig. 15) results in the engagement of sprocletetv |90 with the driving collar 19|, as

best shown Vin Fig. 18. A driving chain '|99 ini lterconnects idler sprocket Vsprocket, 290 mounted at the outer end of cam |90 with another shaft |81.

Referring now to Figs. 15 and 22, the engagement of clutch mechanism |84 is effected upon indication of weft exhaustion by means of a 'solenoid 20| suitably mounted on the loom frame.

Solenoid plunger 202 is joined by 'means of a connecting member 203 to a pull rod 204. Pull rod -4 is loperatively 4connected by means of a link 205 with a pivot'shaft 206 which is supported between bearing members |51. A control arm 201 having an upper branch 2010i and a lower branch 2011) is pivotally connected Vat 208 to the upper end of clutch lever |98. Upper branch arm 201a is operatively connected with pivot shaft 20B by a lever 299 xed to said shaft` Thus when solenoid 20| is energized upon indication of weft exhaustion clutch lever |98 will be moved to the operative position of Fig.

18 by control arm l201 thereby effecting rotation of cam shaft |8| and causing oscillation of the quill-transferring arms in the manner previously described. Lower branch 20117 of control arm 201 is arranged to engage a small cam 2|0 on cam shaft |8| in order to retain saidcontrol arm in its operative position of Fig. 15` for a complete revolution of said cam shaft since solenoid V20| will be energized only momentarily during the time interval required for the passage of the shuttle from the detecting station at the far side of the loom (not shown) to the quill-changing station (shown in Figs. 15 and 16) at the magazine end of theloom. At the completion of a single revolution ofvcam shaft |S| control arm 201 will be restored to normal inoperative position thereby shifting clutch lever |98 to theposition of Fig. 17 and disengaging clutch |84. A spring 2|5 attached tov control arm 291 at one end and anchored at its other end to a frame bracket 2|1 operates to retract said control arm.

The energization of solenoid 20| also accomplishes the elevation of pawl to the operative position of Fig. 17 by means of a linkage 2|8 operatively 4connected to said pawl at its lower end and pivoted at its upper end to a fixed lever 2 I9 of pivot shaft 206.

Solenoid 20| also actuates threading control i mechanism mounted on fixed table 220 in order to accomplish automatic threading of shuttle |55. Referring to Figs. 22 and 23 said control mechanism includes pivot studs 22| which carry at their'upper ends actuatingY lingers 222 retained in bearing sleeves 223.` Said fingers are preferably retractible under excessive load by the presence of springs 224 within sleeves 223 as a safety feature. Fingers 222 are normally retained in outwardly divergent inoperative position (Fig. 22) from which they are movable to substantially parallel operative position (see Fig. 23) by the energization of solenoid 20|. For this purpose a slidable plate 225 is secured to the underside of table 220 as by means of slots 230 through which extend screws 23|. Fixed arms 232 are carried at the bottom of pivot studs 22| and said arms carry pins 233 which are engaged in slots 234i' of plate 225. Finally, pull-rod 204 is pivoted at 235 to plate 225 so that the energization of solenoid 20| will be accompanied by rearward shifting of said plate and the disposition of ngers 222 in the operative position of Fig. 23 awaiting arrival of the shuttle from the far end of the loom.

Figs. 19, 20 and 2l illustrate the operation of the quill-transferring arms |12. Quill-transferring arms |12 move rearwardly toward magazine |19 after having released a fresh quill to the shuttle during the operative downward stroke of hammer |60. .A pair of resilient guide members 235 are mounted on table 220 in order to control the path of arms |12. As said arms move rearwardly they are directed along the outer surfaces of guide members 23S and slightly spread apart due to their natural resilience. Magazine channels ri'il are formed at their lower'end with notches or recesses 237 in order to make accessible theY quill tips 233. The ends of arms 'i2 are formed with hold projections i'l2a which -enter the internal bore of the lowerrnost quill l as said arms complete their rearward 'travel and snap toward recesses 231 as they clear guide members 235. During their retractive or forward stroke arms H2 pass along the inner sur-V faces of guide members 23S (which are forwardly convergent as shown in Fig. 2G) and maintain a firm grip on the fresh quill held between the arms. At the completion of their forward stroke arms |72 continue to hold the fresh quill pending the indication of weft eX- quill thread by a rearwardY extension 243 affixed to hammer |60. As seen in Fig. 21 the lowermost quill in magazine lill is releasably lheld in transfer position in alignment with notches 231 by retaining members 25A pivoted to the underside of each channel member |i| at 245 and normally supported by a leaf spring 2li-6.

Figs. 24, 25 and 26 illustrate shuttle |55 having a housing 250 defining a quill compartment 25| having xed side plates 252. Each side plate kis provided with an opposed pair of spring clip members 253 for retaining the quill tips 233. A pair of movable thread guidesZt are slidably retained `on supporting rods 255 for movement from the normal separated position at opposite sides of compartment 25| (in full lines in Fig. 24) to centrally aligned threading position (in dotted outline in Fig. 24). Rack bars 256 having enlarged heads 251 are slidable in bearings 258 and mesh with pinions 2cd carried on a shaft Zl supported between brackets 26|. lever 252 is mounted at one end of shaft 262 and is pivoted at 263 to the lower extremity oi a respective thread guide 255. A return spring 264 is secured at one end to pinion shaft 260 and at its other end to a set screw 255 for eiiecting Apervariable tension on 'thread guides 25d. tures 25E are provided in shuttle housing 25EI in alignment with rack bars 255 in order to permit the operative engagement'oi actuating fingers 222 against the heads 25? oi said rack bars. As best shown in Fig. 24, the top of housing 2523 is provided with a central slot or eye 26? and an auxiliary eye 25S spaced from eye 26? and 'formed on an integral extension 259 of said housing. Eyes 25T and 268 receive the extended quill thread which is subsequently deposited in the eyes 256e of thread guides 254 when rack 25E are depressed.

The sequence o operations is determined by the electrical control circuit illustrated in Fig. 28 which includes the series-connected detecting switches H and H. When the shuttle is on the far side oi the loom and the shuttle quill is substantially exhausted both said detecting v.switches close simultaneously closing the circuit -to relay switch Relay switch fi' has a .movable contact lllila mounted cn the plunger IM of solenoid |552', and the energization of :solenoid |22 closes relay switch |20. Switch .145' is held closed by latch |23 which is con- An oscillating trolled by another solenoid |44.

The closing of switch Idil' energizes solenoid 27|3| to effect the operations previously described. Reverting back to Fig. 23, one of the pivot studs 22| is provided with a switch 210 mounted for pivotal movement therewith simultaneously with the movement'of 4actuating fingers 222 to operative position; Switch 222 is of the normally open typey and is provided with a pivoted contact arm 2`|| adapted to be engaged by shuttle housing 25B at the termination of the trajectory of the shuttle. Upon the closing of switch Z'i, solenoid |453 is energized'thereby retracting latch U23 and opening relay switch Idil whereupon the loom weaves normally until detecting switches H and H6 again indicate weft exhaustion on the shuttle quill. Solenoids |552 and |411. are operative against the normal biasing tension of respective springs |42'a and Msa.

Since certain modiiications may be made in the device of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing speci- Y iicationV and shown in the accompanying drawillustrative and not Vdepositing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon indicaticn of weft exhaustion, weft-detecting means disposed at a point defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion or weft in the shuttle, said shuttle having a quill compartment, a iiXed centrally disposed slot opening upwardly toward said quill feeding means, a pair of movable thread'tensioning guides ncrmally disposed at opposite ends of said quill co l.- partment and movable to operative threadmg position in alignment with said fixed slot, each ci' said thread tensioning guides having an upwardly opening, weit-receiving slot, and threading means disposed at the magazine end of the loom for moving' said thread 'tensioning guides to koperative threading position upon arrival of the exhausted shuttle at the magazine end of its trajectory subsequent to the indication weit exhaustion, and means for spreading said tensioning guides towards their normal positions.

2. In a loom having a shuttle de ning a trajectoiy from one side of the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed at a point defining one end of the shuttle trajectory, quill feeding means cooperating with said magazine for depositing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon indication of weft exhaustion, electrical weftdetecting means disposed at a point defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weit in the shuttle, said shuttle havingV a quill compartment, a Xed centrally disposed slot opening upwardly toward said quill feeding means, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at opposite ends of said quill compartment and movable to operative threading position in alignment with said xed slot, each of said thread tensioning guides having an upwardly opening, weft-receiving eye, and threading means disposed at the magazine end of the loom and controlled by said weft-detecting means for moving said thread guides to operative threading position upon arrival of the exhausted shuttle at the magazine `end of its trajectory subsequent to the indication of weft exhaustion, and means for spreading said tensioning guides towards their normal positions.

3. In a loom having a shuttle defining a trajectory from one side of the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed at a point defining one end of the shuttle trajectory. quill feeding means cooperating with said magazine for depositing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon indication of weft exhaustion, weft-detecting means disposed at apoint defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, said shuttle having a quill compartment, a main fixed centrally disposed slot opening upwardly toward said quill feeding means, an auxiliary xed upwardly opening slot spaced from said main fixed slot, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at opposite ends of said Aquill compartment and movable to operative threading position in alignment with said main and auxiliary fixed slots, each of said thread tensioning guides having an upwardly opening, weft-receiving slot, and

threading means disposed at the magazine end of Kthe loom for moving said thread guides to operative threading position upon arrival of the exhausted shuttle at the magazine end of its trajectory subsequent to the indication of weft exhaustion, and means for spreading said tensioning guides towards their normal positions.

4. In a loom having a shuttle-defining a trajectory from one side of the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed at a point defining one end of the shuttle trajectory, quill feeding means cooperating with said magazine for depositing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon y indication of weft exhaustion, el ectrical,weft detecting means disposed at a point defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, said .t

- means for moving said thread tensioning guides to operative threading position upon arrival of the exhausted shuttle at the magazine end of its v trajectory subsequent to the indication of weft exhaustion, and means for spreading tensioning guides towards their normal positions.

5. In a Vloom having a shuttle defining a trajectory from one side of ,the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed at a point defining one end of the shuttle trajectory, quill vfeeding means cooperating with said magazine for depositing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon`indication of weft exhaustion, weft-detecting means disposed at a point defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, said shuttle having a quill compartment, a main fixed centrally disposed slot opening upwardly toward said quill feeding means, an auxiliary fixed upwardly opening slot spaced from said main fixed eye, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at .opposite ends of said quill compartment and movable to operative threading position in align,

ment with said main and auxiliary fixed slots, each of said thread tensioning guides having an upwardly opening, weft-receiving slot, and threading means including pivoted actuating fingers disposed at the magazine end of the loom for moving said thread tensioning guides to operative position upon arrival of the exhausted shuttle at the magazine end of its trajectory subsequent to the indication of weft exhaustion.

6. A loom in accordance with claim 5 further characterized in that said actuating fingers are controlled by said weft-detecting means.

7. A loom in accordance with claim 5 further characterized in that said movable thread guides are provided with apertures for the reception of said pivoted actuating fingers thereby allowing movement of said thread tensioning guides to operative threading position.

8. In a loom having a shuttle defining a trajectory from one side of the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed ata point defining one end of the shuttle trajectory, quill feeding means cooperating with said magazine for depositing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon indication of weft exhaustion, weft-detecting means disposed at a point defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, said shuttle having a quill compartment, a main fixed centrally7 disposed slot opening upwardly toward said quill feeding means, an auxiliary fixed upwardly opening slot spacedl from said main fixed slot, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at opposite ends of said quill compartment and movable to operative threading position in alignment with said main and auxiliary fixed slots, each of said thread tensioning guideshaving an upwardly opening, weft-receiving slot, a depressiblerack bar associated with each of said thread tensioning guides, a pinion meshing with Y rack bars and moving said thread tensioning guides to operative threading position upon arrival of the exhausted shuttle at the magazine end of its trajectory subsequent to the indication of weft exhaustion, and means for spreading said tensioning guides towards their normal positions.

9. A loom in accordance with claim 8 further characterized in that said actuating fingers are controlled by said weft-.detecting means.

10. In a loom having a batteri and a shuttle defining a trajectory from one side of the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed at a point defining one end of the shuttle trajectory, a quill feeding hammer pivotally mounted on the loom and cooperating with said magazine for depositing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon indication of weft exhaustion, weftdetecting means disposed at a point defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, a lever pivoted to the loom at its lower end and pivoted to said quill feeding hammer at its upper end, an elevatable pawl carried by said lever. a ram formed on said batten and adapted to engage said pawl subsequent to indication of weft exhaustion when the exhausted shuttle arrives at the magazine'end of its trajectory, said shuttle having a quill compartment, a main xed centrally disposed slot opening upwardly toward said quillnfeeding hammer, an auxiliary fixed-up- Wardly opening slot spaced from said main fixed slot,V a pair of movablev thread tensioning' guides normally disposed a't opposite ends of said quill compartmentl and movable to operative threading position in .alignment with said Ymain and auxiliary'iixed slots, Aeach of sai'd thread tensioning guides having an upwardly opening, weftreceiving eye, and threading means disposed at the magazine end of the loom for moving said thread tensioning guides to operative threading Aposition upon the arrival' of the exhausted shut.-

tle at the magazine end` of its trajectory subsequent to the indication of Yweft exhaustion, and lmeans for spreading. said tensioning towards' their normal positions.

llqA loom in accordance with claim 1G` further characterized in that saidV threading means is controlled by said weftedetecting means.

' 12. In a loom having a shuttle defining a trajectory from one side of the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed at a point defining one end of the shuttle trajectory, a quill feeding hammer pivotally mounted on'the loom andY cooperating with said magazine for deposit- .ing a fresh quill in said shuttle upon indication of weft exhaustion, periodically oscillating quill-'transferring arms for transporting fresh quills from said quill magazine to a rest position in the downward path of said quill feeding harnmer, weft-detecting means disposed-at a point defining the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, a'periodically operated cam shaft having an actuating cam thereon, a cam lever operatively connected with said quill-transferring arms and cooperating with said actuating cam and a clutchcont'rolled idler shaft for driving said cam shaft upon indication of weft exhaustion, said shuttle having a` quill compartment, a main nxed centrally disposed slot opening upwardly toward said quill feeding hammer, an auxiliary fixed upwardly opening slot spaced from said main xed' vtensioning guides towards their normal positions.

' 13. In a loom having a shuttle deninga tran jectory from one side of the loom to the other side thereof, a quill magazine disposed at a point dening one end of the shuttle trajectory, a quill'feeding hammer pivotally mounted on the loom and cooperating with said magazine for depositing `a fresh quill in said shuttle upon indication of weft exhaustion, periodically oscillating quill-transferring arms for transporting fresh quills from said quill magazine to rest position in the downward path of said quill feeding hammer, weft-detecting means disposed ata point dening the opposite end of the shuttle trajectory for indicating exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, a periodically operated cam shaft having an actuating cam thereon, a cam lever operatively connected with said quill-transierringarms and cooperating with said actuating cam and a clutchcontrolled idler shaft for driving said cam shaft upon indication-of weft exhaustion, said shuttle guides having a quill compartment, a main fixed centrallyv disposed Slot opening upwardly toward said quill feeding hammer, an auxiliary fixed upwardly-opening slot spaced from said main ixed slot, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at opposite ends of said quill compartment and movable to operative threading position in alignment with said main and auxiliary fixed slots, each of said thread guides having an upwardly opening, weft-receiving slot, a depressible rack bar associated with each of said thread tensioning guides, a pinion meshing with a respective rack bar and a lever operatively connecting each pinion with a respective thread tensioning guide, and actuating iingers disposed at the magazine end oi the loom for depressing said rack bars and moving said thread tensioning guides to operative threading position upon ar'- rival of the exhausted shuttle at the magazine end ofits trajectory subsequent to the indication of weft exhaustion, and means for spreading said tensioning guides to their normal positions.

14. A loom in accordance with claim 13 wherein saidv quill magazine comprises a pair of downwardly inclined channel-shaped members for retaining the ends of the quill, each of said chan'- nelf-shaped members being formed at its lower end with an inwardly extending notch, said quilltransferring arms having terminal projections insertable within said notches and within the quill ends for transporting the lowermost quill from said' magazine to rest position inthe downward path of said quill feeding hammer.

15. Ascii-threading shuttle comprising a housing dening a quill compartment open at the top and bottom thereof, retaining elements disposed at opposite sides of said compartmentior rotatably supporting a'quill, said housing hav- Ving a'fixed centrally disposed'upwardly-opening slot, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at opposite ends of said quill compartment and movable to operative threading position in alignment with said xed slot, each of said thread tensioning guides having an up'- Wardly-opening, weft-receiving slot,rand spring a fixed centrally disposed upwardly-opening slot,

of saidquill compartment.

17. A self-threading shuttle comprising a housing defining a quill compartment open at the top and bottom thereof, retaining elements disposed at opposite sides of said compartment for rotatably supporting a quill, said housing having a main iixed centrally disposed upwardly-opening slot, an auxiliary fixed upwardly opening slot spacedfrom said main fixed slot, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at opposite ends of said quill compartment and movable tooperative threading position in alignment with said main and auxiliary xed slots, each of said thread tensioning guides having an upwardly-opening, weft-receiving slot, and spring means biasing said thread tensioning guides toward normal separated position at opposite ends of said quill compartment.

' 18. A self-threading shuttle comprising a housing defining a quill compartment open at the top and bottom thereof, retaining elements disposed at opposite sides of said compartment for rotatably supporting a quill, said housing having a main fixed centrally disposed upwardly opening slot, an auxiliary fixed upwardly opening slot spaced from said main iixed slot, a pair of movable thread tensioning guides normally disposed at opposite ends of said quill compartment and movable to operative threading position in alignment with said main and auxiliary iixed slots, each of said thread tensioning guides having an upwardly-opening, weft-receiving slot, a depressible rack bar associated with each of said thread tensioning guides, a pinion meshing with a respective rack bar, a lever operativeiy connecting each pinion with a respective thread tensioning guide, and spring means biasing said thread tensioning guides toward normal separated position at opposite ends of said quill compartment.

RICHARD A. GRIEFEN. FRANZ C. MOSTERTZ.

No references cited. 

